Fans of racing games hold on to a few basic rules that define the virtual sport. These include “move fast,” “get there first,” and “don’t wreck.” These are some solid guidelines, and we’ve all basically agreed on them. But the new arcade racing game ONRUSH smashes through those guidelines like a head-on collision.
We mean it. Crashing is not only a big part of the experience — it’s basically mandatory. Winning a round has nothing to do with reaching a finish line before everyone else because the developers decided to do away with finish lines entirely. Remember, kids: Taking down your fellow drivers is only cheating if they can’t do it back. And they will.
The type of vehicle you pick makes a huge difference in your strategy, much like character selection in the hero-based games ONRUSH takes so much inspiration from. There are dune buggies, tricked out hummers — even motorcycles. If you were in a real-life race this rough, hopping on a motorcycle would seem like a super bad idea. But it has its advantages here.
Each ride has its own pros and cons. Some are heavier and more destructive, while others are agile and can boost longer. And since races aren’t just a simple matter of getting from Point A to Point B, it’s important to learn how the different types of vehicles work together.
ONRUSH continues the “online deathmatch” vibe of competitive games like Overwatch and Rocket League with quick respawns after crashes so that the penalty for totaling your car is almost negligible. The developers aim to keep the action going with all the player-controlled vehicles in the same stretch of track – what they call the “Stampede” system — so that players can keep their attacks and maneuvers going.
It all sounds like a risky, weird idea. But it feels crazy enough to work, especially considering developer Codemasters’ impressive pedigree. Its crew includes people who worked on the World Rally Championship and MotorStorm series, as well as the team-centric PlayStation 4 exclusive Driveclub.
Racers will get to put their “arcade car fighting” skills to the test when ONRUSH launches on June 5 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
